Metabolomic\nComparison between Honey, Propolis, and\nPollen from Brazilian Stingless Bees

The present work aimed to identify the major antioxidants\npresent\nin honey, propolis, and pollen from Jataí (Tetragonisca\nangustula angustula) and Mandaçaia (Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata Lep.) bees\nand relate them with plant species. Pollen showed antioxidant activity\nup to 10 times greater than honey and up to 8 times greater than propolis,\nwith the Jataí bee presenting higher values for DPPH in honey\nand pollen and the Mandaçaia bee in propolis samples. Total\nphenolic contents presented similar results. A greater variety of\nsaccharides was found in honey by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography\nwith high-resolution mass spectrometry. Saccharides, terpenoids, lignans,\nphenolic compounds, and flavonoids were found in propolis, while flavonoids\nwere major in pollen. Mandaçaia bee pollen resulted in more\nkaempferol and <i>p</i>-coumaric acid by high-performance\nliquid chromatography ultraviolet visibility than Jataí. In\ncontrast, Jataí bee pollen showed more quercetin than Mandaçaia.\nThese findings suggest that bees may have visitedDaucus\ncarota, Anethum graveolens, and Raphanus sativus L. for pollination.